The doctor talks with Tom about Noah's injuries…..

"I need to go over some things I found after examining Noah. If you would please follow me," the doctor tells me quietly as he leads me into a private cubicle beside the trauma center.

"Mr. Watson, I know that you brought the patient in tonight. You are his probation officer, correct?" the doctor asks me the questions even though they don't sound like questions.

"Yes, I just got the case a week ago. He was released from Juvenile Hall last Friday on probation. Judge Harrington signed the temporary guardianship tonight after I informed him of abuse he suffered at home," as I tell the doctor I notice I can not read his face.

"He was in Juvenile Hall for how long?", he asks in calm tone.

"About five weeks", I answer. I have no idea what the doctor is needing to know.

"Was anything reported to Infirmary there?" again no emotion in his voice as he asks me.

"No not that I know of why?" I am starting to get alarmed at the thoughts that are beginning to form in my mind.

"Noah has bruises on his upper body and lower back. Some of these bruises are at least month old, some a couple of weeks, some a day or two. He has four cracked ribs, at least five deep bone bruises and I believe that his kidneys are bruised as well," the doctor finally shows some emotion in his voice.

I know the look on my face says it all. Shock, confusion, anger and fear.

The doctor continues on…

"We need to examine Noah for any signs of rape. He reacted violently to the nurses touching him and he kept screaming at them to stop touching him, to stop hurting him. I want to also run an HIV test blood test just as a precaution," the doctor sighs heavily as he looks into my eyes.

Rape. I want to throw up.

"The pain and panic I believe is why he couldn't breath when you found him. His panic attack was severe. He is sedated now. If we release him tonight, which is doubtful, I will prescribe something that will help him to stay calm and something for the pain, but he actually needs to stay over night," the doctor states in a firm voice.

"Mr. Watson, I know that this is hard for you to grasp but something happened to that young man either in that place or at home. We need to find out and to take all measures possible to help him. I had the nurse to document all the bruises we have found so far and I have included my findings, so far, in my notes. "

I ask the doctor how was it possible that no one noticed the pain that had to be visible with Noah? How could he survive a month in that much pain?

The doctor shakes his head and says that he doesn't have any idea how Noah could mask that much pain for so long of a time.

The doctor tells me that he will let me know what the kit results are as soon as he has completed it.

I simply nod my head and walk back out to the waiting room. My mind is reeling with the information the doctor just gave me and the other possibilities.

I look at Kurt, Noah's young friend, he is on the verge of braking down. I know that I cant tell him what the doctor said and it really isn't my place.

I wonder if there is a way to get the information without disclosing what we think has happened to Noah? I walk over him.

Tom and Kurt

"Hey Kurt, I need to talk to you", I say as I walk up to him. I am trying to figure out to phrase the questions I need to ask the young man about school and Noah's home life.

"Mr. Watson, what did the doctor tell you? Is Noah going to be alright?", Kurt asks with his blue eyes shining. He is so hopeful for good news that it tears me up inside. Everything is not going to be alright I think to myself.

"He needs more information Kurt, how close are you to Noah?" my first question is easy enough.

"Until today, I would have said he wasn't a friend, but that changed today", Kurt looks away as he continues to explain. "Noah was my tormentor since elementary school. I have always been different and he couldn't handle it I guess. Noah gave me daily trips to the dumpster and slushied me at least once a day too. But when he joined Glee club he started to change, he has even stood up for me against the other jocks."

"So he was changing for the good, before he went to Juvenile Hall. Do you know anything about his home life, the abuse his mother dished out to him?" I hate asking that question but I need to know.

"I don't really know anything that happened to him at home. I do remember seeing him with black eyes, bruises on his cheek, that sort of thing; but he would brag about a pissed off husband or boyfriend getting mad at him for doing their old ladies", Kurt tells as he looks away.

"You said husbands, so Noah was into Cougars?", I ask even though I am not sure I want the answer to that question.

"Yeah, during the summer months when he cleaned pools, the Puck is legendary with most of the older women of Lima", Kurt tells me matter of fact as if I am suppose to know this information.

So Noah has been seeking unconditional love from all types of females. The young man looked for what he could not get at home. Noah just wanted someone to love him. I knew that feeling too.

"Um, Mr. Watson there is something I should tell you about that happened today at Glee", Kurt starts fidgeting with his hands, "Mr. Shue is our director. He walked up behind Noah and slapped him on the back trying to get him to come on in the room. At least that is how it started out, but Noah didn't hear or see him when he approached him. It was like total fear and then rage flashed over Noah's face when he touched him. He slammed Mr. Shue into the lockers across the hall before anyone could stop him. Finn grabbed him before he could punch Mr. Shue, but the look in his eyes scared the hell out of me. He looked like he could kill him, really kill him. Everyone was freaking out, screaming for Noah to stop. But he kept struggling against Finn, trying to get free. He was screaming no, no at Finn and to let him go, to stop hurting him."

I see the tears slipping down Kurt's cheeks as he tells me what happened at school today. Why does this kid care so much his tormentor, the very person that made his life a living hell for years? Kurt starts speaking again and I get my answer, it is not the one I was expecting either.

"You know, I saw myself when Noah went off on all of us about not caring about him. No one went to see him while he was in that place, not even me. I see the same look in my own eyes as I saw in his today, someone who is scared shitless and lonely as hell. The pain and hurt I saw in his eyes I see in my own in the mirror at night." Kurt stops when a man, I am guessing is his father walks through the double doors and Kurt runs straight into his arms.

I recognize the man as Burt Hummel, I remember him. He lost his wife about the same time as the avoidable mess that happened with Abby and Jeff. His wife was so sweet and loving in life. So that makes Kurt that scrawny kid that played with girl stuff instead of guy toys.

A light bulb goes off in my head as I put two and two together. I understand why Noah was a bully to him, he didn't fit into the Puck world of order. Kurt embraced who and what he is without hesitation. Noah thought Kurt was fearless, while he was scared of his own life.

I see Burt walking towards me with his arm around Kurt.

Fugitive by Mark Salling

Crossing the desert

A desperate measure

But life will be better

Isn't that what you said